I arrived in Hong Kong on Day 5 of our time in China. Our group headed back to the ship, and there I put my backpack down that held four days of clothes and some souvenirs. Then I went to meet up with my friend Sam, because I was so excited to explore Hong Kong. I did not want to miss one moment of exploring and time in Hong Kong, knowing that the next day at 18:00 (6:00 p.m.) it would be a one way gateway, meaning that we would not be allowed to exit the ship, but only be allowed to reenter the ship, for our next port.
As I met up with Sam, we explored the local streets, wandering them, and seeing the local artists. I went into a store sort of like a 7/11 to get a few snacks just to tide me over until we got to Vietnam, because I learned it is always cheaper to get your snacks off the ship than on, because on the ship they charge you definitely double the price, and sometimes they are half the size. So I got some snacks, and we continued to walk and explore. Then, we ran into a local artist that I had been eyeing. I really liked her art that she was doing. It was of boats or ships something that I cannot exactly tell the difference of, but anyway I felt a connection to it, because we were living on a ship and the ship was our new home for 4 months. I then decided to buy the drawing that she was doing from her.
Sam and I then walked back to the ship, admiring all of the pig decor around us, because this year is the year of the pig in China! I stopped and saw a pink neon pig. It was massive and I all of the sudden knew that I wanted a picture with it. I asked Sam to take my picture, as I jumped in the air, posed and even spread my arms out in the air.
Then I noticed the ship in the distance. I asked Sam to take some more pictures of me. Really getting pictures of me in! I jumped again in front of the ship, and as I look back at the pictures you can see me flaying my arms up in the air and the out of of breath facial expression on my face. I went back to my cabin on the ship, to sleep for another wonderful day of exploring tomorrow!
The second day in Hong Kong
I was determined to go sit in the main area of the mall that is connected to the ship. All we really had to do once we got off the MV World Odyssey was walk a little distance through this tunnel, then go up a flight of stairs or a escalator, whatever one we preferred and then we would be there in the common main area that lead us to this large mall. Yet, when I got all settled with my computer, hoping to download a movie or two from iTunes, nothing was being successful for me. The WiFi was weak, and I was getting no where, so I decided to message my friend Xiaoxiao through WeChat, an app that works in China.
After messaging her, we soon met up for lunch. We walked around the mall, found a place for lunch, then after lunch we continued exploring around the mall.
We even went outside where I went with Sam, seeing what it looked like in the daytime. The big pig that I took a picture of last night was not lit up, yet there still seemed to be a large crowd of people even in the day time.
Soon Xiaoxiao and I rushed back to the ship, and as we rushed back to the ship I saw my friend Ben who was exploring around the mall still. Xiaoxiao and I were rushing back because we wanted to be on the ship before the line for "On Ship Time" and the "One Way Gateway" became long and then thus we would get extra dock time for the next port, something that no one would want!
We got to the "One Way Gateway" with plenty of time. Opening up my bag for it to be checked for the ship's security. The security checked my bag, and as I was told I was okay to enter the ship, I got my ship ID out for it to be scanned, something that all the staffalty (staff and faculty), voyagers, students, dependent children ( children who are being homeschooled on the ship for a semester) and everyone else has to do in order to get on and off the ship, letting the ship know who leaves the ship, and who returns to the ship when they are suppose to. Additionally, as soon as I enter the ship with Xiaoxiao we meet up with our friend Yina.
*Next stop Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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